Our Work
We support communities like José María Morelos and Higuera Blanca in building their own pathways to prosperity, inspiring tourism regions to adopt community-first approaches.
José María Morelos and Higuera Blanca's Reality
José María Morelos and Higuera Blanca represent a microcosm of Mexican reality, with its fragmented social structures, violence, hopes, and aspirations for a better future.
With more than 3,400 inhabitants, the communities experience multidimensional poverty, as defined by the Mexican Institute of Social Development and Statistics.
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Average monthly income: under $300 USD per family of four
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27% of residents have not completed elementary school
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0% access to social security
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Limited infrastructure (sewage, water supply, etc.)
Our Pillars
We believe sustainable, social transformation can only be achieved through individual growth. With this in mind, all our initiatives stem from three core pillars:
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A monthly self-development program encouraging participants to uncover their talents, reframe their stories, and build healthier, purpose-driven communities.
Self-harm dropped from 20% to 0%
Drug use in the middle school was eliminated
Academic grades improved from 5% to 25%
We were asked to train Jalisco´s public educators to strengthen their sense of purpose and mission
Organic School Garden
Developed at Morelos´ middle school with Xala Farms, the program teaches students sustainable and culturally responsible farming practices. Through classrooms and fieldwork, they learn about the benefits and practices of organic agriculture, aiming to reduce monoculture-dominant trends and to build a more sustainable future.
of abandoned land converted into a thriving learning space
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of the produce supports school breakfasts
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of the produce is sold to fund school projects
Summer Camp
Xala’s Summer Camp Program provides children from underserved communities with rarely-enjoyed opportunities to connect with nature, as well as opportunities for art, dance, and sports, serving ultimately as a vehicle for intra-network community building.
In a region where children often have to come face-to-face with the realities of child labor, addiction, and violence, this camp provided a safe and inspiring alternative.
123 kids and teenagers attend every summer
Stimulates the local economy by hiring and purchasing from within
We train our teachers and staff to embody positive leadership values
Día de Muertos
The Xala Foundation revived “Día de Muertos” celebrations while uniting both communities through culture, memory, and creativity. Each November, the foundation collaborates with community leaders to co-create the event, featuring an altar display where schools and local groups participate.
2024 was the first time both local communities came together to create what is now the most sought-after cultural event of the year
+800 people attend the event
Schools integrate cultural learning into the classroom by incorporating math for altar design & history for ancestor research
Olas del Emprendimiento Collective
We are empowering a group of local women to produce locally crafted goods that connect luxury development with regional identity. In collaboration with IBERO University (one of the most prestigious universities for business in Mexico), 36 women earned certification in social entrepreneurship and co-founded the community’s first women’s collective built on values of solidarity and sustainability.
144 local people employed
80% increase in their monthly income
Opened the first collective store and catering service in the community
Created 150+ products for ELLE Spain
Tule Artisans
We organized a series of workshops for 44 participants to strengthen local artisanal traditions while encouraging the community to preserve tule—a native freshwater plant—rather than burn it. Following the training and with support from the foundation to design specific crafts, six women took the initiative to establish their own tule crafts business.
Created the community’s first hands-on artisanal experience
Handcrafted 1,000 tule pieces for the 2025 ECAD event in New York City